His Devious Rule

In the cabin,

Anya was sitting on the couch, crossing her arms while Alvin couldn't believe she could be this angry. Or was she just upset? He never in life tried to mend things so patiently and softly. Yet there he was, failed to placate her and made her angry by calling her childish.

"Little Donut… Are you going to ignore me now?" He demanded when she just sat and stared outside.

Anya blinked, hearing him. Only if she knew things would develop into this situation, she would have chosen a different way to deal with him after seeing him lying in her bathtub. Yes, she should have ignored him and avoided appearing in front of him.

He was asking her to calm down and follow him. He didn't feel the necessity to explain to her why he was taking such a decision.

Who was she getting angry at?

Doesn't she know he was always like this?

He never bothered to explain himself. He always did what he felt was right to him. Others' opinions hardly mattered to him, much less an insignificant one like her.

Why was she expecting him to respect her opinion?

Wasn't she trying to balance and be coordinated with him?

Anya clenched her fist when she realized she was idiotically justifying his actions. 'I am a fool.'

She slowly batted her lids when Alvin stood in front of her. He held her chin and lifted her face to make her look at him. She didn't protest. She watched at his confused eyes carrying a hint of annoyance.

Was he annoyed that she wasn't listening to him, she wasn't understanding him like she always did?

She saw his jaws tighten before he opened his lips, "The security officer used to be Caesar Matthews's Head bodyguard." And that's how he knew Stefan, the security officer of the PSR ship. Stefan had moved to the coastal city to join the merchant navy. Alvin had identified him the moment he saw Stefan after getting on the ship.

Anya's face softened hearing Alvin mention his father by name. He hated to speak about anything related to his father or the Matthews family. Hence he avoided bringing such matters up to her. It wasn't new to her. Like always, Anya interpreted everything without making Alvin a bad guy in her dictionary.

His thumb gently caressed her cheek and his annoyed voice returned to indifferent hiding his other emotions, "Little Donut, we don't have time. Let's leave." Though he didn't seem angry, he pressed his words, pressuring her to agree with him.

'Leave!?' How are they going to leave? They weren't on land where they get off somewhere and manage to reach a city by walking. Swimming in the ocean for a long time was impossible and there would be enormous animals that could swallow them like an ant.

Apart from their lives, "There will be nobody to control the situation if we leave." Her mirthless voice sounded, pointing at the danger other people are in.

How could she leave when she knew Harper's men could kill innocent people?

Alvin corrected her, "We are in danger if we stay."

Anya was aware of that. But they could handle the situation by pressuring the manager. Hence Alvin's plan wasn't fathomable to her.

Seeing her unsatisfied and worried about the strangers on the ship, Alvin could only sigh. Problems of being kind, they put themselves in danger.

He tugged her out of the room as he tried to explain to her, "You said there could be more people in crew space, working under the manager."

Walking by his side in the passageway, Anya promptly hummed in response.

The passageway was deserted, Alvin couldn't see any security staff patrolling. He felt things getting more suspicious. His hold on her wrist unawarely tightened in a firm grip.

"That more should be enough to scare the guests and innocent people on the ship." He added after a pause and entered the elevator with her.

Anya looked at him standing next to him. She frowned while she tried to think in his view. The ship had fewer numbers of guests and more ship staff and crew staff. They were more than thrice the number of guests. If there were really so many people working under the manager, then the arrangements and rules on the ship could be disordered at any instant.

Taking Vice-captain working for Harper, Berwick could control the captain and ship. The manager who knew everything about the guests and their activities could use those people to lock all of them down. They couldn't be sure that all the staff of security would listen to the officer.

Alvin felt her fingers grip his sleeves. He watched her eyes widening every second. She exclaimed in disbelief, "The manager could hijack the ship." That could be the only reason Harper will hire so many people.

Understanding the situation and Alvin's effort to keep her safe, Anya's anger and dissatisfaction faded. Since Alvin was trying to save her from one danger, she believed he wouldn't put her in another danger.

Alvin's lips faintly curled before disappearing. His hand gently rubbed her head. He was avoiding speaking about it with her, afraid of scaring her. Anyway, she was smart enough to discern herself.

Probably she could have discerned if she continued to dig into more information. She needs proof and numbers whereas he is aware of cunning criminal businessmen more than her.

If there is any device in the crew space that could contact Shore communication center, then Harper could order any time to take the ship under control as she had changed the itinerary.

Since they have already provoked the manager and his men, Harper could get to know there was Collins on the ship. They were definitely going to capture her and Alvin. Other people's lives could be in more danger than theirs.

She hadn't expected her efforts to save those people could also put them in grave danger. She has to do something to handle the situation.

Alvin saw her fall silent for a few seconds before her eyes glinted, "I- I want to talk with the security officer." Anya looked at Alvin who was surprised by hearing her.

He was expecting her to get scared and follow him like a little fella but her brain was still active without a hint of fear.

Alvin didn't accept, "Little Donut, we don't have much time." The pressure Anya put on the manager wasn't simple. If the manager failed to take the situation under control, he would undoubtedly go for extreme measures.

Who likes to be tortured? Anya was no different. But it was against her conscience to leave people to die. "People's lives are important too." She hoped he could understand her although he doesn't care about others.

People's lives have nothing to do with him. Especially the ones who don't appreciate others' hard work for them. "At the cost of your life?" He scoffed.

'At the cost of my life?' Anya watched him. She sacrificed her whole life once for Alvin and accepted Zane in her life wholeheartedly. Excluding her family, she wouldn't put her life in danger for others. And she also realized Alvin was still her weakness.

So she wouldn't sacrifice her life for the people on the ship. However, she won't be inhumane to just save her skin.

'Ding,'

The elevator notified them when it reached the floor Alvin wanted to go. The door was opening when he heard Anya murmur like the whine of a child in a hesitant tone, "You are there… for me." Though she wasn't aware of his plan, she didn't have any doubts.

The elevator door opened but Alvin didn't move. He looked at her sulking, yet trusting him that he could keep her safe. He had no idea how they could trust each other, nevertheless, it felt good to be trusted without a question.

He contemplated for a few seconds before pressing another button on the number panel to take her to a different floor. However, he coldly dictated, "No more than five minutes." He cared nothing but her safety.

Anya wanted to be happy but, "Five minutes!?" She exclaimed in disbelief. That was way too little time to discuss the safety of the people and counter plans.

"Heh?" A provoking hum sounded next to her.

Anya awkwardly smiled, "The challenge is accepted."

—---

Meanwhile, in a lower deck room,

The room had no windows as it was immersed in the water. The room was brightly lit but the faces of the men inside were dark as coal.

There were four men in the room. Manager Payne and three men, who were on the lido deck in the morning. The four men who tried to come up with a plan to silence the Collins couple gave up after some time.

A man who was standing opinionated, "Manager, this is getting out of hand."

Another man who was sitting nodded, "Before Captain or the security officer take actions against us, we should take things under our control."

The bald man breathed heavily hearing them. He planned the next move before the manager approved their plan, "I will bring thirty of our men and gather the guests to the recreational zone." The recreational zone was a vast area, perfect to terrorize all the guests at one place. "I will teach that Collins a lesson tonight."

The man who was standing added his part in hijacking the ship, "I will shift all the ship staff to the dining hall."

The man who was sitting on the chair looked at the manager for a few seconds before speaking, "I will inform the Boss about this. We should take action immediately."

The manager who tried to focus on the issue stood up with determination. He wasn't ready to be imprisoned by the security officer so he chose to lead the hijacking of the ship.

"Alright. Inform the boss about the situation. And you, gather all the people. We should attack every floor at once. Quick…" He clapped his hand hurrying them to get to work.